Notre Dame DC Chris Ash has been proving a lot the doubters wrong in recent weeks, but don’t mail your apology letter just yet
The Notre Dame defense has improved a ton over the last few weeks. Just how much better is it really?
The energy around Notre Dame football wasn’t in a great place. The reason for that was the defense under new coordinator Chris Ash. In the first three games of the season, the Fighting Irish were allowing nearly 33 points per game. It was not the elite defense that Notre Dame fans have seen in recent years, and the fanbase was understandably frustrated.
Over the last three games, and especially the last ten quarters, this defense is beginning to round back into its previous form. That includes their performance during the team’s 36-7 victory against the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday. As a unit, the defense managed to record three interceptions and four quarterback sacks. This has been a defense built on created disruption, and we saw that this weekend in Notre Dame Stadium.
The heat was high on Coach Ash for a couple of weeks there, and it should have been. To his credit, there has been a ton of growth recently. This defense has shown great improvement, and Coach Ash has implemented a ton more man coverage, as well as some increased second level pressures. It has been a sight for sore eyes.
As an Irish fan, however, don’t quite write your apology letter just yet. An upcoming battle is going to showcase just how much better that unit truly is.
A cautionary tale
With Notre Dame seeing the best two teams on their schedule in back-to-back weeks to begin the year, fans do need to be a little patient with determining just how much better things really are. After those early performances, I cautioned everyone to let things play out a bit, and wait for a bigger sample size. Having good defensive performances against the likes of Boise State and NC State is great, but head coach Marcus Freeman and his team are always going to be judged most for what happens in the big games.
There is a legitimate argument that the USC Trojans have the best offense that Notre Dame is going to see all year. While it shouldn’t be expected for the Irish defense to hold Makai Lemon, Jayden Maiava and company to seven points, you also shouldn’t settle for anything close to resembling the first couple of contests. There has to be obvious growth to feel great about the progression of that unit.
This upcoming week is going to tell the real story about this Fighting Irish defense. Stack together another good performance, and optimism should continue to rise. Have a bit of a setback, and you have to wonder, have things actually improved?
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